Smooth Shoe Uppers And Methods For Producing Them

ABSTRACT

Shoe uppers having smooth seams and methods for producing them are disclosed. In one embodiment the upper uses thermoplastic seam tape which forms bonds between contiguous upper sections after being subjected to heat and/or pressure. In another embodiment, different parts of the shoe can be joined using hidden seams. Close seams can also be covered with a transfer material adapted to give the interior and/or exterior of the upper a smooth surface. In yet another embodiment, a method is disclosed which allows three-dimensional upper sections to be bonded on a last using thermoplastic seam tape.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.11/733,744, filed Apr. 10, 2007, which is incorporated herein in itsentirety by reference thereto.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to footwear, and moreparticularly to shoe uppers having smooth interior and/or exterior uppersurfaces and related methods to produce such shoe uppers.

2. Background Art

Shoe uppers generally have been formed by stitching together a pluralityof exterior panel sections. These exterior panel sections can be made ofleather, synthetic leather, plastic, mesh, textile, or other materials.Conventional stitching is time consuming, labor-intensive, and costlywherein the end result is an aesthetically-unpleasing seam line. Theconventionally stitched seam also suffers from the drawbacks of addingexcess weight to the shoe and having a thick profile which can beuncomfortable for the wearer. It is often desirable to use open-facedmaterials for the exterior panel sections, for example mesh materials,to enhance the breathability of the shoes. These materials areparticularly appropriate for athletic shoes. Such materials arechallenging to join together using conventional stitching techniques. Adesigner of shoe uppers may wish to produce an upper with a highlycurved three-dimensional surface formed from an assembly ofthree-dimensional panel sections. Such a surface may require seams thatwould prohibit the use of conventional stitching machines, which aregenerally limited to two-dimensional (flat) bonding applications.

The interior linings of shoes have generally also comprised severalpanels or sections which are stitched together at various interiorseams. Since the lining directly abuts the wearer's foot, these seamscan become sources of irritation or discomfort to the wearer.

In an effort to avoid or reduce the disadvantages inherent with usingconventional stitching to join exterior panel sections of a shoe upper,designers have experimented with a variety of unitary shoe upperdesigns. These designs suffer from several disadvantages that paneleduppers do not. For example, it is difficult to construct a unitary upperthat displays different characteristics (such as rigidity, thickness, orcushioning) in different areas of the upper. Either the designer willhave to settle for an upper that has uniform characteristics, oradditional costly and time-consuming manufacturing steps will have to beincorporated. Another drawback to unitary uppers is that they are oftennot as aesthetically pleasing to the consumer as an upper formed by aplurality of exterior panel sections.

Accordingly, there is a need to have an improved shoe upper whichcombines the advantages of both the paneled (sectional) and unitary shoeupper designs without inheriting the limitations or disadvantages ofeither. It is desirable to have a sectional shoe upper that has strong,aesthetically-pleasing seams of low profile which can be produced in acost-effective and timely manner. The improved upper should allow thedesigner to be free to select from a wide variety of upper materials andupper shapes, including three-dimensional shapes. There is also a needto minimize or reduce the discomfort generated from interior liningseams.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Described herein are shoe uppers having smooth seams and methods forproducing them.

In one embodiment, an upper for an article of footwear comprises anexterior portion, wherein the exterior portion further comprises aplurality of exterior panels and wherein at least two contiguousexterior panels are joined at least partially to one another by at leastone close seam in a stitchless manner. One or more of the exteriorpanels may be made of a mesh material. In one embodiment, the meshmaterial is overlaid with at least one adhesive film adapted to give theupper an aesthetically pleasing appearance. One or more of the exteriorpanels may comprise an inflatable bladder. The close seam comprisethermoplastic seam tape adapted to join the contiguous exterior panelsat the close seam, such as thermoplastic seam tape comprising a materialselected form the group consisting of polyurethane, polyamide,polyester, nylon, polyolefin, vinyl, polypropylene, thermoplasticurethane, tricot, acrylic, and PVC and the thermoplastic seam tapecomprises two sided thermoplastic adhesive. Further, the close seam maybe covered with a transfer material adapted to give the exterior portionof said shoe a smooth look and feel. The upper may further comprise aninterior portion, wherein the interior portion has an interior portionupper edge and the exterior portion has an exterior portion upper edge;wherein the exterior portion is attached to the interior portion atleast partially by stitching at a hidden seam located along the junctureof the interior portion upper edge and the exterior portion upper edge.A tongue pad and/or a plurality of shoelace eyelets may be attached tothe upper at least partially by the hidden seam located along thejuncture of the interior portion upper edge and the exterior portionupper edge.

In one embodiment, a method of making a shoe upper having a plurality ofupper sections comprises the steps of overlaying a portion of athermoplastic seam tape on a portion of a first upper section; forming afirst bond between the first upper section and the thermoplastic seamtape; overlaying a portion of a second upper section on said portion ofsaid thermoplastic seam tape; and forming a second bond between thesecond upper section and the thermoplastic seam tape such that a closeseam is formed between the first and second upper sections.

In another embodiment, a method of making a shoe upper having aplurality of upper sections comprising the steps of overlapping aportion of a first upper section and a portion of a second upper sectionthereby defining an overlap region; positioning a thermoplastic seamtape over at least a portion of said overlap region such that thethermoplastic seam tape is in direct contact with a surface of saidfirst upper section and a surface of said second upper section; andforming a first bond between the surface of the first upper section andthe thermoplastic seam tape and a second bond between the surface of thesecond upper section and the thermoplastic tape such that a close seamis formed between the first and second upper sections. At least aportion of the overlap region may be stitched prior to forming the firstand second bonds, such that the thermoplastic seam tape substantiallycovers the stitched portion.

In another embodiment, a method of making a shoe upper having aplurality of upper sections comprises the steps of arranging saidplurality of upper sections on a shaped surface having an outer shapesubstantially corresponding to a desired three-dimensional shape forsaid upper, such that each panel is contiguous to at least one otherpanel and one or more bonding margins are formed between said contiguouspanels; positioning thermoplastic seam tape along at least a portion ofone or more of said bonding margins; forming a bond between saidthermoplastic seam tape and two or more of said contiguous uppersections such that a close seam is formed at one or more of said bondingmargins. At least one of the plurality of upper sections may be athree-dimensional upper section, such as a molded three-dimensionalupper section.

Further embodiments, features, and advantages of the present invention,as well as the structure and operation of the various embodiments of thepresent invention, are described in detail below with reference to theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS/FIGURES

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a partof the specification, illustrate the present invention and, togetherwith the description, further serve to explain the principles of theinvention and to enable a person skilled in the pertinent art to makeand use the invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the lateral side of an assembled shoeupper and partial top view of the assembled shoe upper;

FIG. 2 is a view of the upper of FIG. 1 with the transfer material andfilms removed showing the exposed close seams;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view with an exterior film secured on top of anunderlying breathable material with an intermediate layer of adhesivefilm.

FIG. 4 is a rear view of a shoe showing a hidden seem at the heelportion;

FIG. 5 is a side view of a completed shoe.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of an interior of a shoe;

FIG. 7 is a top view of a shoe;

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram displaying a process of bonding exterior panelsections;

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram displaying an alternative process of bondingexterior panel sections;

FIG. 10 is a flow diagram displaying a process of bonding exterior panelsections in three dimensions;

FIG. 11 is a side view of a completed shoe formed in accordance with theprocess of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a shoe upper comprising an inflatablebladder.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is now described with reference to the figureswhere like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similarelements. Also in the figures, the left most digit of each referencenumber corresponds to the figure in which the reference number is firstused. While specific configurations and arrangements are discussed, itshould be understood that this is done for illustrative purposes only. Aperson skilled in the relevant art will recognize that otherconfigurations and arrangements can be used without departing form thespirit and scope of the invention.

As used herein, a close seam is formed by the joining of two contiguousexterior or interior upper panels using conventional or non-conventionalmethods. These close seams could comprise traditional stitching or maybe formed by stitchless techniques, including, but not limited to, RFwelding, ultrasonic welding and cementing. Alternatively, as describedin greater detail below, close seams may be formed by thermoplastic seamtape, hidden seams, or combinations thereof Close seams may join onlytwo contiguous panels, each on opposing sides of the close seam; orclose seams may join more than two contiguous exterior panels.

Conventional shoe uppers having close seams formed by stitching orotherwise joining together a plurality of exterior panel sections may beaesthetically unpleasing because of the presence of stitching lines orthe like between contiguous exterior upper panel sections. Likewise, theinterior linings of conventional shoe uppers comprised of one or moreinterior upper panels sections which are stitched or otherwise joinedtogether at various interior close seams, may become sources ofirritation or discomfort to the wearer, as the stitching lines or thelike between contiguous interior upper panel sections abut against thewearer's foot. In an effort to alleviate these drawbacks of conventionalfootwear construction, according to the present invention, smoothsurfaces may be created along close seams on both the exterior andinterior surfaces of a shoe upper to provide a more aestheticallypleasing and more comfortable article of footwear.

According to the present invention, thermoplastic seam tape can be usedto overlay and/or join contiguous exterior and interior upper panels ata close seam. An example of suitable seam tape for use in shoe uppers isproduced by Bemis Associates, Inc. of Shirley Mass. Such seam tapes arecharacterized by having a melting temperature lower than that of thematerial they are being used to join. Seam tapes can be made from avariety of materials such as polyurethane, polyamide, polyester, nylon,polyolefin, vinyl, polypropylene, thermoplastic urethane, tricot,acrylic, PVC and the like, or any combinations and blends thereof Upon asufficient application of heat and/or pressure, the material can be madeto soften or melt so as to mingle with the material of the adjacentpanels. After the material cools, a strong bond is formed between thepanels without leaving a bulky stitch line.

Whether joining similar or dissimilar materials by stitching, welding,cementing, or other techniques, close seams typically create agap/interruption or layering of contiguous materials at the close seam.According to the present invention, thermoplastic seam tape can be usedto bridge the gap or smooth over the union of overlapping layers.Accordingly, smooth, continuous comfort can be provided to the wearer.Such technique is particularly useful for the interior of the upper, butcan also be employed on the exterior of the upper to provide a smoothlook and/or feel.

In a stitchless embodiment of the present invention, thermoplastic seamtapes can produce strong, aesthetically-pleasing seams of low profilewhich can be produced in a cost-effective and timely manner. Theimprovement over conventional stitching should allow the upper designerto be free to select from a wider variety of upper materials and uppershapes. The seams can also be waterproof. Thermoplastic tapes can besoft and highly elastic which can be used advantageously in applicationswhere stretch and recovery are required. Another advantage thatstitchless seams offer is weight reduction. An upper bonded withthermoplastic seams may weigh considerably less than the previouscut-and-sew designs. Adhesive films can bond open face materials likelaces, meshes, nets and the like, which are difficult and expensive tojoin using conventional stitching means. This gives the upper designer amuch wider variety of materials to select from. In addition to thedesign related advantages discussed above, there are significantfinancial advantages to replacing conventional stitching withthermoplastic seam tape. For example, the ability to bond severalcomponents together in one step may allow for a reduction in labor. Insome instances, fewer components are needed to construct a bonded shoethan a stitched shoe.

Thermoplastic adhesive films bond using a synergistic combination ofchemical adhesion and mechanical bonding. Adhesive films require heat ora combination of heat and pressure, and time to activate, as will bediscussed more fully below. After absorbing sufficient heat and/or theapplication of an appropriate pressure, the adhesive melts, flows, andpenetrates into the substrate. The chemical adhesion between meltedadhesive and the substrate along with the degree of penetration ofadhesive into the substrate is what creates the bond. The adhesivecomponent of the bond results from attractive forces between theadhesive and the substrate. These attractive forces may be from a typeof van der Waals force that arises from the mutual attraction of polarmolecules. The mechanical component of the bond results from thephysical penetration of the melted adhesive into the substrate and thesubsequent cooling and hardening of the adhesive. The adhesive films canbe specifically formulated to adhere to various substrate types.

The upper designer can choose from a variety of adhesive options thatwill result in an optimal close seam bond most suited to a specific typeof shoe upper according to, among other things, the upper substratesselected and the geometry of the upper design. Example adhesive optionsare chemistry, thickness, softening point, and melt flow index, as willbe more fully discussed below. This list of options is not allinclusive, as other adhesive options are known in the art.

Examples of some common adhesives chemistries available in the art arepolyurethane, polyamide, polyester, nylon, polyolefin, vinyl,polypropylene, thermoplastic urethane, tricot, acrylic, PVC and thelike, or any combinations and blends thereof. A person having ordinaryskill in the art would know of other adhesive chemistries. Thethickness, or gauge, of the adhesive film has a major impact on the bondstrength. Generally, heavier weight upper materials will require thickeradhesive films for proper bonding. The weight of the upper section alongwith the minimum tolerable bond strength will dictate what gaugeadhesives should be used for the application. A non-limiting exemplaryrange is 0.002″ to 0.006″ gauge adhesive. Routine testing andexperimentation will reveal the optimum thickness to achieve a specifiedbond strength while minimizing weight, seam profile, and raw materialcosts. The softening point of the adhesive is the temperature where theadhesive film first starts to melt and flow. As a general guide formanufacturing purposes, the minimum recommended temperature to activatean adhesive film is approximately 25° F. above its softening point. Themelt flow index (also known in the art as melt flow rate and melt index)describes how the adhesive flows after it melts. High melt flow indexadhesives flow faster after melting; while low melt flow index adhesivesflow slower after melting. Since high flow rate adhesives can penetratebetter into substrates, they generally form a stronger mechanical bond.In selecting an adhesive chemistry for a particular application, it isuseful to know that the melt flow rate is inversely proportional to themolecular weight and to the viscosity of the particular adhesive chosen.

It is important to establish the correct heat sealing conditions andmonitor them during production. The parameters of temperature, pressure,and time should be precisely controlled to ensure a strong and durablebond. In one embodiment, the bonding apparatus can be a heat seal press.Heat seal presses are widely available and come in many different shapesand forms. An exemplary heat seal press has two flat heated plates. Theplates may be closed by, for example, a pneumatic cylinder. A timerusually controls heat sealing cycle. Temperature and pressure can beadjusted to optimum levels fix any specific application. As is known inthe art, alternatives to heat seal presses comprise heated nip rolls,hot calendering techniques, ultrasonic welding techniques, RF weldingtechniques, lasers in conjunction with nip rolls or presses, hot airsealing machines, and combinations thereof or the like. Although notrequired, heat and pressure are usually applied simultaneously.

The bonding apparatus is typically equipped with a temperaturecontroller so that the operator can select the optimum temperatureaccording to the particular substrates, adhesive chemistry, thickness,softening point, and melt flow index. The adhesive must be subjected toheat and pressure for a certain period of time to melt and flow into thefabrics. A general rule of thumb is to use a minimum temperature 25° F.above the chosen adhesive's softening point. This temperature maysometimes be slightly less than the adhesive's melting point, dependingon the material selected. As another general rule of thumb, the maximumtemperature should usually not exceed the adhesive's melting temperatureby more than about 100° F. It is also important that the temperatureshould be so high as to melt or otherwise damage the substrates, unlessthey are intended to be melted. The softening point and meltingtemperature of any adhesive can be obtained from the manufacturer orthrough routine testing as is known in the art.

The following examples are illustrative, but not limiting, of themethods of the present ‘invention. Other suitable modifications andadaptations of the variety of conditions and parameters normallyencountered in the field, and which would be apparent to those skilledin the art, are within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Referring to the drawings and in particular to FIG. 1, an exemplaryembodiment of a shoe upper according to the present invention generallyreferred to by reference numeral 100 is shown. The exterior portion 102of upper 101 comprises a forefoot region 104, a midfoot region 106, anda heel region 10$. Upper 100 is made from a plurality of exterior panels110 that are bonded together at close seams. In this figure, the upperis shown in its completed state such that the close seams are coveredwith overlay material 112 adapted to give the exterior portion of saidshoe a smooth look and feel.

Overlay material 112 is a trim film which can be cut to a desiredgeometry to match the underlying close seam it will be employed tocover. The transfer material is adhesively bonded to the exterior of theshoe upper. Suitable transfer materials are produced by BemisAssociates, Inc. of Shirley Mass., such as that available under themodel number OT-100, a bi-layer material consisting of a 1 mil thickouter layer of high heat urethane (having a desired exterior color) anda 2 mil thick low melt polyurethane adhesive inner layer (availableseparately under the model number 3206). In addition to performing theprimary function of hiding the close seams (visually and tactilely), thetransfer material can add to the aesthetic appeal of the shoe upper.Overlay material 112 can be selected from any number of decorativecolors and patterns; for example, a highly reflective material can beused. The transfer material also adds functionality to the shoe; forexample, in soccer it is beneficial to have a smooth shoe exterior foroptimum kicking control of the soccer ball.

The exterior portion can be made from any suitable material or materialsthe designer chooses, but in an exemplary embodiment the material is amesh material 114. The mesh enhances the breathability of upper 100. Asan alternative to mesh, a breathable water-resistant textile materialcould be used. Open-faced materials, such as mesh materials, arechallenging to join together using conventional stitching techniques butare easily adaptable to thermoplastic seam tape bonding methods. Uppermay also be made from a combination of materials, for example, exteriorpanels 110 can be made of leather, synthetic leather, plastic, mesh,textile, or any other suitable material and combinations thereof.

At least a portion of the exterior portion can optionally be coveredwith a film material 116. A layer of adhesive film 320 is positionedbetween the mesh material 114 and exterior film 116 as shown in FIG. 3.The exterior film 116 is applied to mesh material 114 with adhesive film320 using heat transfer techniques or other techniques known in the art,such as RF welding. The film material may incorporate a nylon weaveconstruction. A plurality of openings 118 can be laser cut into exteriorfilm 116 and adhesive film 320. Adhesive film 320 may be of the typesold by Bemis Associates located in Shirley, Mass. under the designation3405. This tape is a polyurethane tape with a softening point of about120 degrees Celsius (248 degrees Fahrenheit). Other suitable filmmaterials include polyurethane adhesive films produced by BemisAssociates, Inc. of Shirley Mass. under the model numbers 3410 and 3415.It is advantageous to laser cut the film so that the edges of theopenings will not fray. The openings can further enhance thebreathability of the upper 100, and can also add to its aestheticappeal. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 there is a plurality ofopenings 118 a in the forefoot region and a plurality of openings 118 bon both the medial and lateral sides of the midfoot region. The openingscan be put in other locations and can comprise different patterns,shapes, and sizes. The use of film material coupled with laser cuttingallows the upper designer to radically alter the look of the upper.

FIG. 2 shows the embodiment of FIG. 1 with the transfer material andfilms removed so that the close seams 222 are exposed. The upper 100 isdivided along a vertical plane into medial 224 and lateral 226 sides.The plurality of exterior panels comprises a forefoot panel 228, alateral forward midfoot panel 230 a, a medial forward midfoot panel 230b, a lateral rear midfoot panel 232 a, a medial rear midfoot panel 232b, a lateral heel panel 234, and a medial heel panel (not shown). Thepanels described are an example embodiment only; other panelarrangements would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art.Contiguous exterior panels are connected at close seams. These closeseams could comprise traditional stitching, thermoplastic seam tape,hidden seams, or combinations thereof. Thermoplastic seam tape andhidden seams will be described in greater detail below. In theembodiment of FIG. 2, each close seam joins only two contiguous panels,each on opposing sides of the close seam; however, it is within thescope of the present disclosure to have close seams joining more thantwo contiguous exterior panels.

FIG. 4 shows a rear view of one embodiment of the shoe upper. In thisembodiment, the close seam at the heel is a hidden seam 436. A hiddenseam uses conventional stitching instead of thermoplastic seam tape, butthe stitching is hidden in a way that makes the seam appear to bestitchless. During the manufacturing process of such a seam, the upperis turned “inside out and stitched using techniques known in the art.After the stitching is complete, the upper is then turned right sideout. In the embodiment shown, the hidden seam does not have transfermaterial covering it like the dose seams of FIG. 1; however, transfermaterial can be used on hidden seams if so desired. Although theembodiment shown uses hidden seams at the heel, any of the close seamscould be constructed in this manner. Any contiguous exterior panelsections can be joined by any combination of conventional stitching,thermoplastic seam tape, and hidden seam stitching.

FIG. 5 shows a lateral view of an exemplary completed stitchless shoe538 having a configuration similar to that described above with respectto FIGS. 1 and 2. Upper 100 of shoe 538 is attached to sole 540, whichmay be made of any conventional material or materials such as EVA foamand rubber and may include a midsole and/or an outsole.

FIG. 6 shows the interior of the shoe upper. The exterior sectionprovides for most of the structural integrity of the upper, but may beuncomfortable to the wearer if directly abutting the wearer's foot.Therefore, it is common for shoes to have an interior portion 642.Interior portion 642 comprises at least in part a compliant material,such as brushed nylon, soft synthetic leather, natural leathers,circular knit and woven textile materials. The interior of the shoe istypically made of one or more flat materials that are attached at theirends to form the interior. The compliant material can be uniformthroughout the interior, or different materials and/or thicknesses canbe used to selectively put more cushioning only where it is needed. Forexample, the front of the shoe often does not require as much cushioningas the rear part of the shoe. In the embodiment of FIG. 6, there is athicker roar interior portion 644 adjacent to the wearer's heel andankle, and a thinner forward interior portion 646. The interior portionscan be joined by stitching or with thermoplastic seam tape. As is donewith the upper exterior, the close seam 222 at the junction of theinterior portions can also be covered with transfer material 112. Usingtransfer material on interior seam 222 is aesthetically appealing, butperhaps more importantly, minimizes or eliminates any discomfort thatthe wearer would have from the seam. The use of tape alone, withoutstitching, to join close seam 222 would also serve to reduce anydiscomfort that the wearer would have from the seam.

FIG. 7 shows another use of hidden seams other than for joiningcontiguous exterior panel sections. Interior portion 642 has an interiorportion upper edge 748. Exterior portion 102 has an exterior portionupper edge 750. In the embodiment shown, the exterior portion isattached to the interior portion at least partially by stitching ahidden seam 752 located along the juncture of the interior portion upperedge and the exterior portion upper edge. Hidden seam 752 runs along theperiphery of ankle opening 754 and along the periphery 756 of tongueopening 762. As discussed above, hidden seam 752 is stitched, but in away that makes the seam appear to be stitchless. During themanufacturing process of such a seam, the upper is turned “inside out”and stitched using techniques known in the art. After the stitching iscomplete, the upper is then turned right side out. Tongue pad 758 andshoelace eyelets 760 may also be secured to the upper by hidden seam752. In one embodiment, a peripheral portion of tongue pad 758 andshoelace eyelets 760 are inserted between interior portion upper edge748 and exterior portion upper edge 750 and the four layers are stitchedtogether, then turned inside out, so as to be secured by hidden seam752. Accordingly, stitching can be substantially removed or be madevirtually invisible in the area where the interior lining and exteriorof the upper are joined. Although not shown, overlay material can beplaced on areas of seam 752, in much the same way that overlay material112 is used to cover close seams 222. As a further alternative, seam 752could be bonded with thermoplastic seam tape instead of using hiddenseam stitching.

FIGS. 8-10 are directed to embodiments of a process for joiningcontiguous exterior panels using thermoplastic seam tape. While thefollowing processes are described with respect to exterior panels, suchprocesses can also be used to create close seams between interiorpanels, for example 644 and 646 in FIG. 6. Initially, a plurality ofexterior panel sections are manufactured as individual components thatwill ultimately be joined into the three-dimensional finished upper. Afirst exterior panel section, such as any of exterior panels 228-234shown in FIG. 2, is laid flat on a surface; this surface can be a partof the joining mechanism or a separate component. In step 801, a stripof thermoplastic seam tape is carefully aligned to coincide with thefirst edge of the first exterior panel section. The tape may be of thetype sold by Bemis Associates located in Shirley, Mass. under thedesignation 3405. The strip of thermoplastic tape should have a nominal10 millimeter overlap on any upper section it is to be bonded on. Instep 802, a joining mechanism will be made to come into operativecontact with the thermoplastic seam tape and exterior panel combination.As previously discussed, the joining mechanism will apply heat and/orpressure for the appropriate amount of time and cause the thermoplasticseam tape to form bond between the first panel and the seam tape. Ifthere is a concern that thermoplastic seam tape would be made to adhereto joining mechanism during the bonding process, a blocking surface canbe positioned on top of tape before mechanism is activated. The blockingmaterial should have a higher softening temperature than the settemperature applied by the joining mechanism. In used, the blockingmaterial must be removed after the first bond is formed in step. Thebond formed in step 802 will be the site where a second exterior panelsection is joined to the first exterior panel section. The secondexterior panel section is also typical of any of exterior panels 228-234shown in FIG. 2. In step 803, a second edge of the second exterior panelsection is carefully aligned to coincide with the location of thethermoplastic seam tape. In step 804 a joining mechanism will be made tocome into operative contact with the thermoplastic seam tape andexterior panels combination. As previously discussed, the joiningmechanism will apply heat and/or pressure for the appropriate amount oftime and cause the thermoplastic seam tape to form a second stitchlessbond between the second exterior panel and the seam tape. At theconclusion of the process illustrated in FIG. 8, the two contiguousexterior panels are joined in a stitchless manner. The process can berepeated as desired at other close seams.

In another embodiment, two contiguous exterior sections can bethermoplastically bonded with a single activation of heat and/orpressure by a joining mechanism. Initially, a plurality of exteriorpanel sections are manufactured as individual components that willultimately be joined into the three-dimensional finished upper. In step901, a first and a second exterior section are aligned and laid out onsurface; this surface can be a part of the joining mechanism or aseparate component. In step 902, a strip of thermoplastic seam tape isbrought into contact with both of the exterior sections. The strip canbe laid on top of the juncture between the first and second exteriorsections. Alternatively, the strip could be laid between an overlappingregion of the first and second exterior sections. In step 903, a joiningmechanism is activated. A first bond is formed between the tape and thefirst exterior panel section, a second bond is formed between the tapeand the second exterior panel section. If there is a concern thatthermoplastic seam tape would be made to adhere to the joining mechanismduring the bonding process, a blocking surface can be positioned on topof the tape before the joining mechanism is activated. If used, theblocking material must be removed after the bonding process. At theconclusion of the process illustrated in FIG. 9, the two contiguousexterior panels are joined in a stitchless manner. The process can berepeated as desired at other close seams.

As described above with particular reference to FIGS. 8-9, a shoe uppercan be constructed from a plurality of exterior panel sections which aresubstantially flat. The surface supporting the exterior panel sectionsduring the bonding process as well as the joining mechanism may also besubstantially flat. However, while conventional stitching machines maybe restrictively limiting to the upper manufacturing process, becausesuch stitching machines generally cannot handle an irregularly shaped orthree-dimensional seam line, the thermoplastic seam tape stitchlessbonds of the present invention have increased capability in this arena.In particular, three-dimensional exterior panel sections can be bondedtogether using thermoplastic seam tape. Such three-dimensional exteriorpanel sections may comprise, for example, molded sections.Three-dimensional panel sections can be bonded to two-dimensionalsections as well.

To employ the methods of FIGS. 8-9 on three dimensional sections, thesections are first assembled on a last or other shaped male surfacehaving the shape of the desired shoe upper, in step 1001. Thethree-dimensional last is analogous to the two-dimensional surface usedfor flat bonding. In step 1002, thermoplastic seam tape is applied atthe close seams according to the flat bonding procedure. In step 1003, athree-dimensional joining mechanism having a shaped female surface orinterior shape that is substantially the same shape as the exteriorshape of the last can be used to apply heat and pressure to thethree-dimensional close seams. The three-dimensional joining mechanismis analogous to the joining mechanism used for fiat bonding.

Since the process of using flat tapes, as described in FIG. 8, requiresthe adhesive tape to he bonded to a first exterior panel section beforethe second section is overlapped and bonded such methods would precludethe possibility of joining all the close seams in a single applicationof the three-dimensional joining mechanism. However, the methods can bealtered to include the possibility of imparting the thermoplastic seamtape with some amount of “tackiness” prior to the bonding operations.The tapes can be made “sticky” enough to temporarily hold the exteriorpanel sections together on the last in the desired configuration. Onemethod to provide tackiness to the thermoplastic seam tape is to spotweld portions of the tape, thereby temporarily partially meltingportions thereof. The last itself may also have a tack surface to holdthe exterior panels in place prior to the bonding process.Alternatively, the last could have a suction surface or a combinationtack and suction surface. Once all the panels are assembled and in theproper configuration, the three-dimensional joining mechanism can beactivated thereby bonding all of the close seams simultaneously in asingle operation with pressure and/or heat. This would lead to adecrease in production time and an associated cost savings.

FIG. 11 shows an upper 100 manufactured according to the presentinvention. Upper 100 is assembled by aligning rear segment 1101 andforefoot segment 1102 on a flat surface and joining these segments tocreate a close seam. An overlay material 1103 was cut to a desiredgeometry to match the underlying close seam and employed to cover theclose seam. As an alternative, the upper shown in FIG. 11 could bemanufactured in three-dimensions, as described above, on male last 1104.

The process described above may he especially useful With uppersincluding bladders, such as the bladders disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.6,785,985 to Marvin et al. Which are sometimes incorporated into shoeuppers to provide fit, cushioning, stability, or to improve athleticperformance. These bladders may he sandwiched between the uppermaterials. Alternatively, the bladders can function as an exoskeleton,actually comprising a part of the upper exterior. Inflatable shoebladders may sometimes he made of two sheets of a polymer materialwelded around their peripheral edges forming an airtight seal. A portionof the peripheral weld line can function as a stitch line, whereonconventional stitching is used to secure the bladder to other parts ofthe shoe upper. This technique poses a risk of accidentally rupturingthe bladder or otherwise harming the integrity of the airtight seal,which could be a substantial source of wasted raw materials, money, andtime.

To substantially eliminate the risk of accidentally damaging the bladderduring the manufacturing process, thermoplastic seam tape can be used inlieu of conventional stitching to attach the bladder to other componentsof the upper.

In FIG. 12, an inflatable bladder exoskeleton 1200 is disposed in theupper around the ankle and midfoot area, as described in U.S. PublishedPatent Application No. 2005/0028404. Bladder 1200 permits the wearer toadjust the fit of the upper. According to the present invention, theperiphery of bladder 1200 may be joined to conventional upper materials100 at close seam 222 by thermoplastic tape, as described above. Usingthermoplastic tape at close seam 222 substantially reduces the risk ofaccidental rupture of bladder 1200 as compared to conventionalstitching. Manufacturing inflatable footwear in such a mariner allowsfor inflatable bladders made from two flat sheets of polymer material,such as described in U.S. Published Patent Application No. 2005/0028404,to be joined to molded footwear upper components in a three-dimensionalmanner on a last or other shaped male surface, as described above, whereconventional stitching would not he possible. Close seam 222 may furthercomprise a strip of overlay material 112 adapted to give the upper asmooth look and feel.

It should be noted that the terms “first,” “second,” “upper,” “lower”and the like may be used herein to modify various elements. Thesemodifiers do not imply a spatial, sequential, or hierarchical order tothe modified elements unless specifically stated.

The foregoing description of the embodiments are presented for purposesof illustration and description. The description is not intended to beexhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, andobviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of theabove teachings. While this invention has been particularly shown anddescribed with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will heunderstood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form anddetails may be made therein without departing form the spirit and scopeof the invention. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present inventionshould not be limited by any of the above-described exemplaryembodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the followingclaims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. An upper for an article of footwear comprising:an exterior portion, wherein said exterior portion further comprises aplurality of exterior panels; and wherein at least two contiguousexterior panels are joined at least partially to one another by at leastone close seam in a stitchless manner.
 2. The upper according to claim 1wherein said at least one close seam comprises thermoplastic seam tapeadapted to join said contiguous exterior panels at the close seam. 3.The upper according to claim 2 wherein said thermoplastic seam tapecomprises a material selected form the group consisting of polyurethane,polyamide, polyester, nylon, polyolefin, vinyl, polypropylene,thermoplastic urethane, tricot, acrylic, and PVC.
 4. The upper accordingto claim 2 wherein said thermoplastic seam tape comprises two sidedthermoplastic adhesive.
 5. The upper according to claim 1 wherein saidclose seam is covered with a transfer material adapted to give theexterior portion of said shoe a smooth look and feel.
 6. The upperaccording to claim 1 further comprising an interior portion; wherein theinterior portion has an interior portion upper edge and said exteriorportion has an exterior portion upper edge; wherein the exterior portionis attached to the interior portion at least partially by stitching at ahidden seam located along the juncture of the interior portion upperedge and the exterior portion upper edge.
 7. The upper according toclaim 6 further comprising a tongue pad, wherein the tongue pad isattached to the upper at least partially by the hidden seam locatedalong the juncture of the interior portion upper edge and the exteriorportion upper edge.
 8. The upper according to claim 6 further comprisinga plurality of shoelace eyelets, wherein the shoelace eyelets areattached to the upper at least partially by the hidden seam locatedalong the juncture of the interior portion upper edge and the exteriorportion upper edge.
 9. The upper according to claim 1 wherein said upperfarther comprises a toe region, a vamp region, and a heel region; saidvamp region being divided into a rear vamp region and a forward vampregion; each of said toe region, rear vamp region, forward vamp regionand heel regions have respective medial and lateral sides; said exteriorpanels comprising: a toe panel, a medial heel panel, a lateral heelpanel, a medial rear vamp panel, a lateral rear vamp panel, a medialforward vamp panel, and a lateral forward vamp panel.
 10. The upper ofclaim 9 wherein said at least one close seam comprises close seams atthe junctures of (a) the toe section and the medial forward vampsection, (b) the toe section and the lateral forward vamp section, (c)the medial forward vamp section to the medial rear vamp section, (d) thelateral forward vamp section to the lateral rear vamp section, (e) themedial rear vamp section to the medial heel section, and (f) the lateralrear vamp section to the lateral heel section.
 11. The upper accordingto claim 1 wherein one or more of said exterior panels are made of amesh material.
 12. The upper according to claim 11 wherein said meshmaterial is overlaid with at least one adhesive film adapted to give theupper an aesthetically pleasing appearance.
 13. The upper according toclaim 12 wherein said at least one adhesive film has a plurality ofopenings therein.
 14. The upper according to claim 1 wherein one or moreof said exterior panels comprises an inflatable bladder.
 15. A method ofmaking a shoe upper having a plurality of upper sections comprising thesteps of: (a) overlaying a portion of a thermoplastic seam tape on aportion of a first upper section; (b) forming a first bond between thefirst upper section and the thermoplastic seam tape; (c) overlaying aportion of a second upper section on said portion of said thermoplasticseam tape; (d) forming a second bond between the second upper sectionand the thermoplastic seam tape such that a close seam is formed betweenthe first and second upper sections.
 16. The method according to claim15 further comprising the steps of: (e) placing a blocking surface ontop of the thermoplastic seam tape before forming the first bond; and(f) removing the blocking surface after forming the first bond.
 17. Themethod according to claim 15, wherein said first and second uppersections are exterior upper sections.
 18. The method according to claim15, wherein said first and second upper sections are interior uppersections.
 19. A method of making a shoe upper having a plurality ofupper sections comprising the steps of: (a) overlapping a portion of afirst upper section and a portion of a second upper section therebydefining an overlap region; (b) positioning a thermoplastic seam tapeover at least a portion of said overlap region such that thethermoplastic seam tape is in direct contact with a surface of saidfirst upper section and a surface of said second upper section; (c)forming a first bond between the surface of the first upper section andthe thermoplastic seam tape and a second bond between the surface of thesecond upper section and the thermoplastic tape such that a close seamis formed between the first and second upper sections.
 20. The methodaccording to claim 19 further comprising steps of: (d) placing ablocking surface on top of the thermoplastic seam tape before formingthe first and second bonds; (e) removing the blocking surface afterforming the first and second bonds.